Apparatus for circulating solutions



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E. L. SCHULTZ APPARATUS FOR CIRCULATING SOLUTIONS Filed May 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l J22 ran my lad so. 30, 1947. E. 1.. SCHULTZ APPARATUS FOR CIRCULATING SOLUTIONS 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed May .16, 1945 Jul anion! 005: 1.. Stal /n1;

Attorney.

Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CIRCULATIN G SOLUTIONS Eugene L. Schultz, Woodside, Long Island, N. Y. Application May 16, 1945, Serial No. 593,987

6 Claims.

This invention relate to liquid circulators or stirrers, such as solution agitators, and more particularly is directed to an improved apparatus for circulating solutions in processing photographic films and papers whereby such solutions are kept in constant motion and thoroughly mixed so as to expose the film or paper prints emersed therein to the-action of a continuous uniformly efiective chemical treatment.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve apparatus of the character described, which apparatus shall comprise a few simple parts that are readily assembled to form a rugged yet neat and attractive structure, which shall be practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other object of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. The invention accordingly consists of features of construction and method, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and steps in the method which will be exemplified in the construction and method hereinafter described and of which the scope of the application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention.

Fig. 1 is a prospective view of a multi-tray agitator apparatus adapted to be used in photographic processing constructed to embody the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary prospective View of the tray agitator with parts removed showing portion of the pin and slot connector and vertically extending rod.

Fig. 2a is a prospective view showing a fragmentary portion of the rack or shelf and portion of the pin and slot connector.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the agitating apparatus showing the driving means thereof.

Fig. 4 is a prospective view of another form of an improved agitator construction shown partly broken away and having power operating means enclosed in a bas casing.

Referring in detail to the drawing Ill denotes generally, a hand operated multiple tray type of solution circulating apparatus constructed to embody the invention for agitating one or a plurality of spaced flat pans or trays II. As here shown, each of said trays II is adapted to contain 'a suitable solution used. in processing photograph films and prints immersed therein for the well understood purposes.

Said trays II may be of any suitable metallic or nonmetallic material and may be of conventional construction. As here shown, each tray I I is rectangular in shape and is provided with an outwardly extended rim flange I la surrounding the body or container portion IIb, the latter being seated to extend through a horizontally disposed shelf or frame rack I2 with the tray flange Ila resting thereon as shown in Fig. 1.

Preferably apparatus I0 may be constructed to accommodate a plurality of trays II which may be arranged in tiers, that is, in superimposed spaced apart relation, each tray II being seated on its individual shelf or frame rack I2 so as to be readily demounted or interchanged as desired. Themultiple frame racks or shelves I2 with the trays II may be supported between a pair of spaced upright members I 3, which may be of U-shaped section, the upper and lower ends I3a and I3b, respectively, of members l3 being interconnected by top and bottom horizontally extending cross bars I I and I5, respectively, through suitable corner hinge or pivoting means I3c.

Each of said racks I2 has the opposite ends IZa along the central long axis X-X thereof pivotally secured to the member I 3 by suitable means such as pin and slot engaging connectors I3d. The latter may have the pins formed with ball heads engaging in button hol shaped slots to permit ready assembly and to provide sufficient looseness for the required play at said connectors I3d during relative rocking or swiveling movements of the racks I2 with respect to the upright members I3.

Thetop and bottom crossbars I l and I5, may be pivotally mounted by U-shaped yoke brackets I6 and I 1, respectively, from suitable stationary or rigid support means, as for example by a suitable casing C only a fragmentary portion of which is shown in dotted lines. Such casing C may be constructed in any well understood manner for partially enclosing apparatus I ll and in which the latter is appropriately secured for operation as hereinafter described. Said casing C may be constructed and arranged when made to totally enclose the apparatus Ill, with demountable or swinging side walls to give convenient access to the apparatus Ill, when in use, in any well understood manner.

The U-shaped yoke brackets I6 and I! are located to have their pivotting portions Ilia and Ho. respectively, centrally between the spaced ends I3a of upright members I3, respectively. As seen in Fig. 1, the top yoke bracket 56 may also serve as a bearing in which a manually operated drive shaft I8 is journalled having a suitable crank handle l8a at one end and a crank pin I8b at the other end thereof. Crank pin I8b pivotally connects with one end of a link l9 which has th other end pivoted to a vertically extending rod 20. The latter joins the several superimposed racks I2 at one mid-point along the short axis YY of each as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a loosely secured swivelling connection to allow required suflicient play duringrelative rocking movements of the racks I2 with respect to the extension rod 20.

Mounted to turn with drive-shaft I8, .there may be provided a pulley 2i which through a suitable power transmission belt 22 drives-a crank disc 23, said disc 23 being mounted for rotationslto overhang a suitable counter-shaft 14 supported by bracket or hanger 25 from an upper portion of the casing C at a spaced distance from upper yoke bracket as shown in-Fig. 1. y The .crank-disc'23 throughlalinkor arm 25 connects with the upper crossbar I4 serves to lift andiloweranend of said bar US and thereby move the racks I2 and trays-H in and-out of a normal horizontal plane acrosssaid short. axis YY, the upright members 13 .andcross bars I4 and I5 forming a linkage which rocks-on the pivoting portion =I 6a and Ila of the yoke brackets L6, and l! .as shownlin Fig. -1.

, .After construction and assembling apparatus Illasdescribed aboveand shownin-Figs. 1 to 3, the improved operationlandmethod for use .in photographic developing work will be at once apparent. ,A suitable developer, ,fixer, toner or washing solution .is placed into-the trays I I partiallyfilling same anda film or print immersed in each forprocessingintheusual manner. The trays II may then beiseated in .the racks I2. Nowrstarting with the solution in each=tray H in a relatively level normalhorizontal lane, the crank handle 18 may be .rotated. The .drive through belt =22,-crank disc 23 and the arm 26, and the linkage framework formed by upright memberslfiiandrcross bars I4.and.l5, will cause each-rack I2 with tray H .to be .rocked or tilted in and .out of the-normal .horizontallplane across an :axis YY in a plane passing through vpivoting portions .Ifia and Ila. "Simultaneously the turning of crank handle Ilia through extension rod v2-D, will cause \eachrack [2 vand tray .H to

betilted or rocked in and outrof the normal horizontal planeacross axis .X-Xina plane passing through pinrandslot connections I3dat right angles to axis YY.

The solution in eachtray II will therefore be subjected tothe .combinedfaction of two rocking movementslinrand outof the normal horizontal plane acrosswtheclong-and shortlaxislof each tray II and will be .causedtto circulateinstrays H ,to how in a continuoussswirl lover the film or prints immersed therein. By .makingtthesratio of the tilting cycle timeon the long axis v.X-X to that onthe short. axis .Y.Yt unequal, thatis, at different .rates when using conventional shaped rectangular .trays, ,a constant flow .vof well mixed solutionsto all partsofthe traysland over the filmsorprints is obtained, With standard sized trays I2x for processing standards '.x. 10'. pictures or films, rotation of the crank handle L8. atabout 30 R. P. .lvlhfor tilting the trays I2 across the short axisiXeX andiarranging .fortilting of said trays I2'on thelong axis YYlat a ratecorrespondingto 20 RhPh-Mrhavle been founcl to give satisfactory results, I.

It is to be understood that suitable power means such as an electric motor drive with or without speed reduction means, (not shown) can be provided to replace the crank handle Ilia, in any well understood manner.

In Fig. 4, a modified construction of applicants invention is shown in the form of apparatus HE! which also utilizes the improved method. Said apparatus H0 is seen to include a pair of rigidly supported uprights or stanchions 1H2 upstanding from the opposite ends of a U-shaped beam H2a. Each of said stanchions H2 has loosely mounted for reciprocation thereon a sleeve mem- :berI I3, the latter-terminating short of the lower ends of said stanch ons H2 which are fixed to said beam -H2a. The lower ends H3a of said sleeves H3lmaybe interconnected by a horizontally extending cross bar H4 which has suitable loose'fastening means, such as slot and pin end connections H5, as shown in Fig. 4.

.Spaced :to normally lie .in .a horizontally disposed =plan-e between: said members I I3 arennovable shelves or frame racks I I5 wh ch are pivot ally supported at --opposite ends thereof as at Ilsa-to pairs of stud pins H'I extending from said'mem'bers H3 so that the :racks I I 6 normally lie in aihorizontal plane inspaced superimposed relation and can eachbe tilted .or'rocked 'on .said pins H1 in and out of said normally i-horizaontal positionon relative :movement of 'members i3. Each rack H6 is made'to form'a seatforengaging the rim flangel I la of pan III ,which extends through the frame-rack 1 I 6 as is clearly shown in :Fig. 4. The pins 1 I- H engage mid-portions =:oi opposite'sides Hfiw of the racks H6,=so"that symmetrical portions of each pan III and rack -I I16 can be rocked on anaxis X-X ataright'iangles through a line i extended between said pivots *on sides I Ifia during :relativelyopposite movement of'members H3.

The racks lrliiilare also'interconnectedby a vertically movable tilting bar II 8 lwhicham-ay be pivotallyconnected toeach of the-spaced racks 'IrIB as at H-fib so that racks H6 :with the-seated pans I I each can beitilt-ed on'an-axis YYtpassing through pivots onwsides :I Ifia.

seen in Fig. 4, there isprovided at the'base of apparatus H0, for moving cross bar -IM'and tilting bar "H 8, suitable power means, and as shown is. hand operated. -S-aidapower means :may include, as'in apparatus I-Il above described, 'a drive shaft H9 journalled in a yoke bracket 12% firmly secured to the beam I lZa, said shaft I I9 having'a-tcrank handle HBa atone end and 2. crank pin I-Ifib attheother, :the latterpivotally connecting to reciprocate the tilting bar I-I8 throughlink I I90.

A pulley I 2 I is mounted to turn with shaft I it and through belt 122 turns a crank disc [23 which-turnsion shaft I'M :suitably mounted on hanger bearing means 125 from the'casing ttol as shown in Fig. 4. The crank disc I23 through link I2-3apivotal1y connects with cross bar "H4.

As indicated in dotted lines, Fa, suitable I casing C may be provided to enclose the :power drive means above described for apparatus H0 with the crank. handle 'I lsa extending to the exter-ior therec-flrotati'on pf crank handle I I-ISabeing-effective totilt thetrays H2 across theaxes-X--X and YY in the :same manner :asdescribed above for apparatus I-Il.

If-desired .a motorldrive (not-shown) .ofxany conventional construction may-be substituted for the manual drive, and where electric power Eris supplied, switch buttons or thedikezcanabe used for controlling the operation of the apparatus In or III).

The improved method for circulating a solution in trays as seen from the above comprises tilting each tray with the solution in and out of a horizontal plane to normally cause a flood or Wave fiow of the solution back and forth relative to one axis XX and tilting each tray to normally cause a fiood or wave fiow of the solution back and forth relative to the other axis Y-Y at right angles to said first axis, but by concurrent tiltings a circulation of the solution keeps the same in a constant swirling motion thoroughly mixed so as to expose a film or print immersed therein to a continuous uniformly effective chemical treatment.

Where the trays used are rectangular in shape the tilting time cycle across the shorter axis Y-Y may be made relatively shorter than across the longer axis X-X for giving improved circulating effect of the solution throughout the trays.

It should be noted that in practicing the invention, as here shown, the trays may be considered to be supported on a three-point suspension, namely at opposite ends of the long axis X--X and at one end of the shorter axis Y-Y, opposite ends of the trays with the solutions being moved relatively in up and down directions across the short axis Y-Y and also up and down simultaneously across the long axis XX. The overall eifect is to subject each solution to a circulation movement particularly suitable for photographic processes.

It is therefore seen that there is provided an improved article of manufacture in which the several objects of the invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various other possible embodiments of the invention may be made in the above invention and as various changes may be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth and shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a pivoting frame linkage structure, including spaced upright members, racks supported on said structure between said upright members, trays mounted on said racks in superimposed spaced relation, means connecting with said upright members for moving the frame structure with the racks to tilt the trays in and out of their horizontal positions across one axis, and means connecting with said racks and cooperating with said first mentioned means to tilt the trays in and out of their horizontal position across a second axis.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said cooperating means includes an interconnecting drive for making the tilting rate on said axes unequal.

3. An apparatus for constantly circulating a solution in a tray comprising a rack for removably mounting a tray, a first tilting means including two independent movable supporting members pivotally secured to opposite ends of the rack, means for alternately raising and lowering said members to tilt the rack and trays upon one axi through the trays, and second tilting means attached to one side of the rack and concurrently operable to tilt the rack and tray on a transverse axis through the tray to effect circulation of the solution in the tray.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said supporting means have a plurality of racks for receiving a plurality of trays in spaced superimposed relation for movement by both first and second mentioned tilting means simultaneously.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a normally horizontally disposed tray for circulating a solution therein, three-point suspension means for supporting said tray for movement thereon, means for moving one point of said suspension means upwardly While moving another of said points downwardly to tilt the tray in and out of the horizontal plane across one axis, and means cooperative with said first mentioned moving means including an interconnecting bar for moving the third suspension point in an up and down direction at a different rate and concurrently with said other tilting tray movement in and out of the horizontal plane across another axis, said three-point suspension means including a pair of spaced members, a pivotal mounting between said spaced members for mounting the tray, said cooperative means including an interconnecting drive for reciprocating said three suspension points in continuous cycles of movement.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a normally horizontally disposed tray for circulating a solution therein, three-point suspension means for supporting said tray for movement thereon, means for moving one point of said suspension means upwardly while moving another of said points downwardly to tilt the tray in and out of the horizontal plane across one axis, and means cooperative with said first mentioned moving means including an interconnecting bar for moving the third suspension point in an up and down direction at a difierent rate and concurrently with said other tilting tray movement in and out of the horizontal plane across another axis, said three-point suspension includes a pair of spaced relatively fixed stanchions, and sleeve members movably mounted on said stanchion between which the tray is pivotally mounted, said cooperative means including driving means for reciprocating said three suspension points in continuous cycles of movement.

EUGENE L. SCHULTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 252,471 Johnson Jan. 17, 1882 1,519,715 Altorfer Dec. 16, 1924 1,754,510 Greenberg Apr. 15, 1930 1,871,374 John Aug. 9, 1932 1,907,395 Wilkes May 2, 1933 1,911,313 Good May 30, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,370 Great Britain Jan. 13, 1913 

